Driving the Day:
By The Numbers: Monday, March 23, 2020, 7:30 AM
Number of US cases reported: 33,018
Number of US deaths: 471
Total Number of People Tested in US: 238,632 (may not include private labs)
New York Times: A Different Way to Chart the Spread of Coronavirus
What to Watch For: President Trump has no public events on Monday. The coronavirus task force will hold a press briefing at 5:30 PM. Following the failure of a cloture vote on a massive economic relief package on Sunday night, negotiations on Capitol Hill are ongoing. A re-vote on the package is scheduled for 9:45 AM. Joe Biden has planned a series of shadow coronavirus briefings that could start as early as today.
Trump’s Failure To Prepare and How He’s Making It Worse
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Still Trying To Overturn the ACA: Trump affirmed that his administration still supports a lawsuit that seeks to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus crisis, ripping away health insurance from millions when they need it most. “What we want to do is terminate it,” Trump said. Trump falsely claimed that he was going to “put in great health care” that would protect pre-existing conditions.
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Mixed Signals On Social Distancing: Late Sunday night, Trump tweeted “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF,” indicating that he may be preparing to abandon social distancing as a way to fight coronavirus due to the economic costs. At the Sunday press briefing, Vice President Pence announced that the CDC would issue guidance to make it possible for people exposed to coronavirus to return to work more quickly by wearing masks.
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FEMA Director Has No Answer On Masks: FEMA Director Peter Gaynor appeared on multiple Sunday shows and was unable to provide specifics on what his agency is doing to distribute desperately needed masks to states and cities. Gaynor could not say how many masks had been shipped, only “thousands of millions.” Gaynor also could not say when they would arrive.
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Mixed Signals On Invoking Defense Production Act: Trump appeared to back down from plans to invoke the Defense Production Act to force production of needed medical goods saying, “We’re a country not based on nationalizing our business” and that his administration doesn’t “know who to call to make masks.” Just two days earlier, Trump stated twice that he had already invoked the DPA and had begun using it.
ABC: On a call with Trump officials, police chief pleads: ‘Stop testing NBA players, start testing first responders’
Axios: Early signs of a coming Trump pivot on the coronavirus economy
CNN: Democratic senators move to force Trump’s hand to ramp up medical equipment production
New York Times: Harsh Steps Are Needed to Stop the Coronavirus, Experts Say
New York Times: Trump Bets Business Will Answer Call to Fight Virus, but Strategy Bewilders Firms
Politico: Trump wants to defeat coronavirus — and make sure he gets credit
Politico: FEMA head says masks are being sent but declines to be specific
Reuters: U.S. axed CDC expert job in China months before virus outbreak
Talking Points Memo: FEMA Admin Repeatedly Dodges Questions On Hospital Supply Shortages
Washington Post: Governors and mayors in growing uproar over Trump’s lagging coronavirus response
Trump’s Misinformation
- Touting Unproven Malaria Drug: At the Sunday press briefing, without Dr. Anthony Fauci there to correct him, Trump continued to tout the unproven and potentially dangerous malaria drug chloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus. Trump’s relentless promotion of the drug has led to shortagesfor lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients who need it and cases of reported poisonings in Nigeria.
Looking Out For Themselves
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Trump Properties Profiting Off Coronavirus?: At the Sunday evening press briefing, Trump refused to commit that his personal properties or company would not seek funding from the proposed $500 billion Treasury fund for large firms. Trump complained that questions about whether his family had conducted any stock transactions during the crisis were “nasty” and that it “cost me billions of dollars to be president of the United States.” Senate Democrats blocked passage of the relief package on Sunday because of concerns that the package was too favorable to large corporations at the expense of workers and that it gave the Treasury too much control over a $500 billion loan program.
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Senator Paul Carelessly Exposes Other Senators To Coronavirus: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tested positive for coronavirus, amid reports that he went to the Senate gym and attended a luncheon for GOP senators while awaiting his results. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) entered self-quarantine following contact with Paul. At the press briefing, Trump mocked reports that Romney is in isolation sarcastically saying, “Gee, that’s too bad.”
Washington Post: Treasury’s power over $500 billion loan program becomes key sticking point in coronavirus aid bill
HuffPost: Democrats Block Mitch McConnell’s Coronavirus Bill, Calling It A ‘Corporate Bailout’
CNN: Senate Democrats block movement on economic stimulus package citing ‘serious issues’ with bill
The Hill: Rand Paul’s coronavirus diagnosis sends shockwaves through Senate
NBC: Rand Paul becomes first known senator to test positive for coronavirus
Washington Post: Trump won’t rule out possibility his private business could benefit from coronavirus stimulus
Other News
Federal Activity
CNBC: Trump activates National Guard in California, New York and Washington state: ‘This is a war’
CNBC: FDA says it won’t take action against manufacturers that start making hand sanitizer
Governors
Bloomberg: Delaware, Ohio, Louisiana Latest to Issue Stay-at-Home Order
CNN: ‘I’m gonna go to work’: How Andrew Cuomo and his press conferences contrast with President Trump
Miami Herald (Editorial): Coronavirus is killing us in Florida, Gov. DeSantis. Act like you give a damn
National Security
McClatchy: Defense Department reports first coronavirus death, contractor felt symptoms March 4
Immigration and Travel
Politico: Peru spars with U.S. over letting stranded Americans fly home during coronavirus outbreak
Congress
HuffPost: Why Elizabeth Warren Is Everywhere On Coronavirus Response
Salt Lake Tribune: Rep. Ben McAdams hospitalized with coronavirus while Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney self-quarantine
Economic Impact
Bloomberg: U.S. Jobless Rate May Soar to 30%, Fed’s Bullard Says
Washington Post: Many Americans’ biggest worry right now is April 1 rent and mortgage payments
Workers
Axios: Scoop: Uber CEO asks Trump to include drivers in economic stimulus
Popular Information: Installing cable during a pandemic
Corporate America
CNBC: Cisco commits $225 million in fight against coronavirus as Silicon Valley initiates investment blitz
HuffPost: Here Is What The Auto Industry Can (And Can’t) Do To Help With Ventilators
New York Times: Rupert Murdoch Put His Son in Charge of Fox. It Was a Dangerous Mistake.
Politico: Detroit won’t save us from a ventilator shortage anytime soon
Stat: Gilead pauses access to experimental Covid-19 drug due to ‘overwhelming demand’
Social Impact
Axios: College students are still going out despite coronavirus warnings
New York Times: Deniers and Disbelievers: ‘If I Get Corona, I Get Corona’
Washington Post: For the homeless, coronavirus is a new menace in a perilous life
Campaigns and Elections
Axios: Biden calls on Trump to drop ACA case in wake of coronavirus outbreak
New York Times: Biden Addresses a Visibility Question: ‘How Do We Get More of You?’
Politico: Biden plans shadow coronavirus briefings
Politico: ‘Extraordinary change’: How coronavirus is rewiring the Republican and Democratic parties
Politico: Coronavirus upends the battle for the House
Public Safety
The Hill: FBI warns white supremacists encouraging members to spread coronavirus to law enforcement, Jews: report
Niagara Gazette: At New York prison, Harvey Weinstein put in isolation after contracting virus
Washington Post: Gun and ammunition sales rise amid pandemic fears
International
Reuters: Germany to ban meetings of more than two people – state premier
Washington Post: As coronavirus surges, a frantic Europe scrambles for hospital beds, ventilators, supplies
Science
New York Times: Lost Sense of Smell May Be Peculiar Clue to Coronavirus Infection
Trump Tweets
“WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]
“I watch and listen to the Fake News, CNN, MSDNC, ABC, NBC, CBS, some of FOX (desperately & foolishly pleading to be politically correct), the @nytimes, & the @washingtonpost, and all I see is hatred of me at any cost. Don’t they understand that they are destroying themselves?” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]
“My friend (always there when I’ve needed him!), Senator @RandPaul, was just tested “positive” from the Chinese Virus. That is not good! He is strong and will get better. Just spoke to him and he was in good spirits.” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]
“The hard working men and women of @UPS are working overtime to maintain our supply chain and deliver medical supplies to those in need. Your work is critical to the health of our nation, keep it up!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]
“.@JBPritzker, Governor of Illinois, and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News @CNN & Concast (MSDNC), shouldn’t be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be!” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]
“Working very well with States and our Nation’s Governors. #TEAMWORK” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]
“Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! @fema Go for it auto execs, lets see how good you are? @RepMarkMeadows @GOPLeader @senatemajldr” [@realDonaldTrump, 3/22/20]